Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
October 28, 2016

Barbados Bearing and Gittens Landscaping Progressive fought their way to a 3-1 conquest of Flow Deacons when round one of the Goddard Enterprises Limited Division One Volleyball Tournament continued Wednesday night at Kensington Oval Bond.

Progressive outfitted in new blue and white Adidas uniforms got off to a good start against last year’s men’s league champion Deacons who were put on the backfoot rather early yesterday and never regained their composure as Progressive spiked their way to a 25-22, 25-22, 22-25 and 28-26 victory.

Kyle Brown, captain of Flow Deacons, sent down some thunderous plays but his team was unable to stop Progressive from winning.

The scores were even-steven 21-21 when Progressive broke and capitalized on three consecutive points to move ahead of Deacons, 24-21, and went on to capture the set. Despite having a shoulder injury Rico Brathwaite was one of the most attacking player for Progressive. They also had the services of Fabian Cox, Akeem Payne and Chioke Holder.

Kemar Hinds began the second set with two ace serves for Progressive as they went on to lead at the first and second technical time outs 8-6 and 16-14. Coincidentally the scores were tied 21-21 when Progressive with the break took a one-point advantage at 22-21 but not for too long as the Elwyn Oxley-coached Deacons, led by captain Kyle Brown, equalized. Progressive still went on to capture the set and take a 2-0 lead.

Deacons’ supporters were hopeful their team would at least win the third set. The scores were leveled 18-18 when two of the most attacking players on Deacons’ team in Brown and Shaquille Barker went after the ball and upped the momentum to ensure they went ahead 21-18. This forced Progressive’s coach Marcus Green to signal time out.

Cox and Brathwaite scored respective points each to cut the deficit down to 20-21 as both sides seemed determine not to give anything away. It was 22-22 when Oxley called time-out and on resumption.

Progressive with the serve did not have the best of start when Jherard Morris-Sealy served into the nets. That proved costly as Deacons made good use of their fortune especially through their attackers who fired away to ensure Progressive did not take a straight set win.

The fourth set was crucial for both sides as Progressive aimed at ensuring the game did not go into a fifth set while Deacons were hoping for the opposite. In the end the battle went right down to the wire and at 26-26 Payne spiked one down the middle followed by Hinds with another fantastic serve to seal it for Progressive men.

Playing in the other match Chargers’ men made light work of Foundation United as they went down in straight sets 25-21, 25-14 and 25-12.